a little peek...

a nautical themed birthday banner for one very lucky little boy...

(and yes, that is burlap and seersucker you see! i work with fabrics too!)

glass glitter whales for hanging...
(its going to be one 'whale of a time', don't you know...)

and some very sweet cupcake picks...

(monograms in the works too...)

i've been up to my elbows in glass glitter and crepe and fabric...and loving every moment...hope you're all off revelling in some creativity of your very own...

this just in...

these pretty silver dresden numbers...

and these lovely silver dresden letters...

and these sweet aqua doves...sigh...

AND!..this! the sparkliest, shiniest, most superb german glass glitter!

and its all available for you now in the shop! i am so excited to be expanding my ICING ON THE CAKE line of vintage inspired embellishments and supplies for all of your own confectionary crafting cravings! i can't wait to share all of my ideas for using these vintage charmers with you very, very soon!

drum roll please!

INTRODUCING, THE 'ICING ON THE CAKE' LINE BY THE CREPE CONFECTIONARY!

i wanted to drop in for just a moment so that i could share some exciting news! in the coming weeks, i am going to be introducing a new line of handmade crafting and decorating embellishments in the shop. you can expect to see the sweetest of crepe paper ruffles, the sparkliest of glass glitters, and the most whimsical of vintage bits and baubles for all your creative pursuits. i call it the 'icing on the cake' line because it consists of the very bits and pieces i handcraft or gather for use in my own artwork...you know, the sweet little details that really add that final touch to a piece.

so now you too can add some vintage charm to just about anything! i absolutely love crepe paper, and i fold and gather it into almost any imaginable machination. and i use it almost everywhere...gift wrapping, party hats, banners, costumes, as garland on my tinsel tree, and even on the edges of my shelves. it adds just the right touch of antiquated charm, no matter what the use. i even go so far as to create my own fringed festooning, reminiscent of the kind once seen in the old Denison Crepe Paper Company's 'Bogie Book'. and yes, this too will be available for sale in the shop, should you be so tempted...

i will even be offering confectionary kits, including do it yourself party hats and other holiday items, for those of you adventurous enough to give yourself a sweet tooth. i don't know about you, but i love disappearing into my craft cave to toil away on something frivilous. i suppose i want to share that sense of respite and whimsy with those of you willing volunteers out there...enjoy the experience, revel in the process, spend time on the tiniest of details, smile at what you accomplish.

so tie an apron on, grab your glue gun, and let the glitter fly!

easter treats

(photo Southern Living.com)

did the easter bunny fill your basket full of sweet treats this year? did the sun shine upon y0u and your family? did you feast on ham or lamb? did you find yourself in a sugar coma by sunday evening like i did?

i'm still recovering -- mainly because i am still finishing off the chrusciki leftovers that still haunt me from down in the kitchen. i'm a polish girl, and i am very fortunate to have had a wonderful polish grandma who taught me how to cook and bake and entertain and create. so every year for easter, i pull out the big kitchen aid mixer, my apron, and grandma's recipe for polish angel wing cookies, or chrusciki.

the dough is a basic noodle-type, consisting mainly of egg yolks and flour. it is rolled out, cut into strips with a pastry wheel, and then 'twisted' into the inside-out angel wing knot for which they are most notable. eaten alone and plain, it is a rather bland experience. but give them a heavy dusting with confectioner's sugar, and you have a delectable little treat that you will devour. my grandmother was legendary for hers, and could crank them out by the dozens in no time. she and her sisters owned and operated a catering company, and giant mountains of chrusciki were often on the menu for the hundreds of polish weddings they delivered to the community. i'm the only one left in the family that still knows how to make them, and so i try to make as many as i can so we can indulge in their yumminess and the memory of my grandma.

i was ambitious this year, and decided i would make not one, but two, batches. not so bad, right? well, one batch of dough alone can produce up to 200 (!!) chrusciki! so i knew that i was in for a long saturday. but you know, once i get started cracking those eggs and twisting those wings, i begin to remember...its like she is here with me, standing at the counter with me in my own kitchen, guiding me as i roll the dough or drop them into the oil to cook. i can see her hands in my memory, her long fingers shaping the dough until it was just right. the best part was always sitting down with a cup of coffee and enjoying some when they were all done...

my grandmother was, and continues to be, a shining star for me. a wonderful woman who taught me about more than just eggs and flour or setting tables. she taught me to approach all tasks with integrity, to treat everyone like an honored guest, to make the most of what i have at hand. my morals, my values, and my ethics didn't come from going to catholic school and church on sundays. it came from the time i spent in my grandmother's kitchen, learning the lessons that have done me well thus far in my life.

i guess the moral of my story, my own personal point of view, is that holidays are not necessarily about going to church and worshipping faith myths for me. they are about honoring the love and the memories of the people who have enriched my life. this is what i celebrate, especially this time of year.

'oh, i could write a sonnet about your easter bonnet...

...and of the girl i'm taking to the easter parade.'

sigh. i'm a girl who loves old movies. surprised? i didn't think so...but not just any old movie. there has to be something that draws me in and keeps my attention. i need a little glam, a little drama, breathtaking sets, song, and especially dance! so yes, Easter Parade happens to fit the bill quite nicely. if you haven't had the pleasure, i emphatically endorse it as a great movie to get you in the mood for spring and for the easter holiday. what a nice way to spend easter sunday evening, no?

its silly, but i often found myself humming the old irving berlin tune that was the highlight of the movie as i crafted away in the studio glittering eggs and embellishing bunnies. i have been enjoying the welcomed early arrival of spring on the doorstep of western new york for almost a month now, and i am finding that it has really helped fuel my creative energies...like the sun warming all my tender little plants in the garden so that they peek their heads up from the soil and bloom.

so i thought i would share some of my springtime creative zeal with you, and show you a little project i did this past week in preparation for the easter holiday...

i was strolling through my neighborhood Dollar Tree stocking up on my basics -- white craft glue, tinsel, stryofoam, and crepe paper (because it makes absolutely no sense to overpay for such items) -- when i stumbled upon this cute little straw hat in the seasonal area. it immediately reminded me of the one i had as a child, and how i would wear it to church on sundays and for other special occasions. but once i was done reminiscing about my lost youth, i had a light bulb moment wherein i was sure that i could turn this dollar store straw hat into a darling little easter bonnet for display somewhere in ma petite maison...

i set about looking through the store for other supplies i could use to embellish my little bonnet. on this occasion, my Dollar Tree also happened to be stocked up with some really lovely silk flowers in pale pinks and creamy chartreuse whites. now, allow me to take a moment to address dollar store flowers and silk flowers in general -- i don't really like them. lol...i know, i know. i am not very elitist when it comes to my crafting or my decor, but i have always strongly despised fake flowers. i see their utility, but they just never, ever look as good as the real thing. but sometimes, as was the case on this day, they are a necessary evil. furthermore, these were so lovely and i knew that i could "vintage" them up a bit with some sand paper once i got them home.

so with my dollar store straw hat and my dollar store silk flowers, i scampered off home to make an easter bonnet of my very own. i gathered up some extra fixings for the hat including some vintage velvet millinery leaves, pearl stamens, vintage forget me nots, ribbon, and tulle. you'll notice in the picture above that i replaced the paper ribbon on the hat with a silk ribbon in a soft sage (a Pottery Barn wrapping castoff), and i also added a few tufts of white tulle that was leftover from a sewing project. i pulled a few of the silk roses off of their stems and took some sandpaper to the edges to make them look more aged. since the hat was sized for a child, i only chose to use about three of the blooms, and i kept the pallette a bit more restrained. i added a green velvet leaf and some pearl stamens to one of the blooms, and decided to stop there for fear that i would overdo it.

now how easy was that? this project literally took about fifteen minutes to complete, and it cost less than five dollars to make! vintage charm for just pennies...

so i hope that this inspires you to indulge in some last mintue spring crafting. celebrate the season and welcome mother nature back into your home! happy spring!

spring fever

when i was a little girl in grammar school (second grade, actually), i wrote an impromptu poem entitled 'spring fever'. somehow, the nun who was the principle at the time saw it, and decided it would be a good idea to have me read it to the entire school over the intercom...right away.

and thus began my public speaking career...lol. i was reminded of this little episode when i noticed not one, but four (!), robins in the tree outside my house this past week. what a welcome sight! one of the things i love about living in a place like buffalo is that we get to experience all four seasons. while my favorite is fall, i really look forward to watching the transformation that occurs as each season fades into the next. thankfully, big, scary, snowbound buffalo enjoyed a mild winter, and now, it looks like we are about to begin our spring...thank you, mother nature!

so with this unexpectedly early visit from spring, i've been a busy chick...spring cleaning? check. seedlings started for the garden? check. easter items for the shop? check. now, if only the sun would keep melting the snow in the yard, i can begin my spring cleanup outside too...

in the meantime, i have enough custom orders to keep me happily busied in the studio. a couple of weeks ago, i was invited to a birthday dinner for my very good friend's mom. not wanting to show up empty-handed, i decided to whip up a birthday party hat just for her. well, it was so well-received, i decided to post it in the shop. that led to three custom orders in a matter of days! needless to say, i think i need to get to work on expanding my birthday line a lot sooner than planned.

amongst these custom confections was a frilly, pink birthday banner for a little girl named 'olive' and a new, sparkly 'happy birthday' banner (also for olive...boy, that girl is going to have one heck of a birthday party!). both are available through the shop, so stop in and take a peek. the frilly 'olive' banner was very much like the one i was commissioned to make for a surprise family reunion a few months ago for a dear customer in texas. she had just located a long lost sister, and she wanted to surprise her with a custom confection for their first meeting. i was so touched and honored to be able to participate in such a momentous occasion! in fact, i thought i would share with you a picture of lee with her sister carla...

needless to say, i admit that i am suffering from a serious case of spring fever...the sun is shining, we can see more blue skies, and i am itching to get outdoors. what about you? are you jonesing for the sunshine and fresh air like i am? do you have any special rituals or practices that you do to ring in the season? do you like to change up your decor, like i do? are you in the midst of your winter sowing for the garden?



whatever it is you do, wherever you are, i hope the sun, the warmth, and the flowers find you soon...

well, we're movin' on up! to the eeeast siiiiddee...

yup, i was a kid who grew up watching the jeffersons...but that's not my point here today, though it would be fun to reminisce about how great tv shows in the 80's were...mr. belvedere...benson...the facts of life...falcon crest...sigh.

oh well, back to work here...

a few weeks ago, the crepe confectionary was honored to be asked to participate in a discussion panel at the North Tonawanda Public Library!

so amidst filling the shop full of valentine's day goodies and preparing for the february Buffalo Indie Market, i began to catalog all the things i had come to learn in my very short time as a business owner. like, always get payment for a custom item before you begin spending time and money on it. or, that good pictures of your work are your best advertisement. by the time i had finished, i had identified a number of tips that i felt were helpful to me in my work thus far. the presentation was a success, and was so well received, that i thought i would share them with you here...

now, if you're anything like me, the crafting part is what comes naturally. the challenge i faced when turning my hobby into my livelihood were all the details related to running a business. i am a doctor by training, with a very little bit of design schooling under my belt. i possess zero business acumen. so i found myself doing what i always do when i take up some new venture, and that's educating myself. i went looking for resources that would be useful to me. these included, but were not limited to: my brother, who has an MBA; my sister in law, who has a very entreprenurial brain; the Canisius College (my alma mater) women's business center, which offers free consulations to new business owners; and last but not least, Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco, a fantastic 'how-to' guide for the beginner.

when it came down to it, i found myself focusing the "business" half of my brain on two areas: branding, myself and my shop, and marketing, my shop and my little creations. these are the tips i had to share with those in attendance at the "how to be an etsy seller" workshop...

when it comes to branding yourself, think about the image you want your shop to portray, the type of customer you are looking to attract, and the level of refinement you desire as a business owner.

• be creative, but not confusing with your shop name. (though 'crepe confectionary' often gets requests for crepes...to which i must regretfully inform the inquirer that i only make those on saturday mornings and they're not for sale...)
• be consistent! use the same name/logo across any websites, including blogs.
• develop a logo and create a shop banner. a logo is a great way to leave a lasting impression with browsers and customers.
• make or purchase business cards or ATCs (artist trading cards), and ALWAYS have them with you. don't be afraid to hand them to people - you are your own marketing department!
• create your own packaging theme and stick to it. customers love when they receive a package that has been carefully and thoughtfully wrapped. it reflects your own level of professionalism, as well as demonstrates the worth of your product.
• surprise your customers with a small token of appreciation for their purchase (i.e. a small photo if you're a photographer, extra scrap supplies, postcards, etc). this will keep your customers coming back, fo sho!

so you have a product, you have an etsy shop, and you're ready to go, right? nope. lol.

marketing yourself is key. sure, your store will get some traffic from the casual etsy browser, but you should strive to build a following, because those are the customers that will continue to support you. etsy is a community more than anything else. to be successful there, you need to be personable and willing to connect to your fellow craftspeople/artisans, as well as your customers. furthermore, you need to be the face of your shop and product. etsy buyers shop on etsy because they desire handmade, quality, one of a kind items, and they want to know from whom they are purchasing.

• create a blog. a blog is a great way to introduce yourself and your product to the world. talk about your inspiration, your creative process, your hobbies, your favorite recipes, whatever! provide tutorials and contests to keep your readers interested.
• network with other etsy sellers and creative bloggers. you would be surprised how many etsy sellers are also etsy buyers. look for other shop owners who have 'hearted' you, and 'heart' them back, or send them a message thanking them for their support.
• read and comment on blogs that you feel capture readers suited to your ideal customer. people will notice you, and the blogger may even give you a shout out on his/her blog. this is a great way to increase traffic to your shop.
• participate in your local community. look for other local etsy sellers, and get to know them. being your own boss and running your own shop can be a great way to make some money, but it can also be quite isolating. furthermore, your fellow artisans/shopkeepers can be excellent resources and wonderful free advertising.

whew! this turned out to be a marathon post, no? lol...well, nonetheless, i hope this was helpful to any of you readers out there who are on the fence about taking the next step with your hobby. i can only speak for myself, but my experience thus far has been nothing but positive. remember, you reap what you sow, so opening an etsy shop can be as simple as a side project for extra cash, or you can be like me, and decide to see if you have the guts to do something that really tests your limits, but feeds your soul. the beauty is, it's all up to you...

what about you? do you have a tip to share? a question you need answering? have you opened an etsy shop recently? i'd love to hear what your experiences have been like...post a comment and feel free to plug your shop or your site or your own blog!